The “This, That, and the Other” of Group Business
Growing up in the family disease of alcoholism often gives family members a false sense of being in charge. I brought this attitude with me everywhere I went, including Al‑Anon. My rigid thinking told me that certain things
Even Though My Husband Still Drinks
Like so many before me, I came to Al‑Anon in a desperate state. I needed help without even knowing it. My husband was in the hospital for the second time in a year with pancreatitis from drinking. I
My Journey to Self-Worth
I have had low self-esteem for a long time. My alcoholic ex-husband constantly put me down, abused me, told me I was not good enough, and demeaned me. Why did I allow it? I guess I thought I
Now Back to Me
When I went to my first Al‑Anon meeting, I was worried that I didn’t belong. However, I was reassured that the only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or a
The Forum’s Unsung Heroes: The FEAC
Readers of The Forum often ask how the decision to publish an article is made and by whom. And, while there are a number of people who work to produce the magazine every month, one of the most
Welcoming Change—AFA 2019
I like consistency in my life. I don’t like surprises, such as when a favorite store of mine closes or when a nice neighbor moves away. However, my Al‑Anon recovery helps me to recognize that change brings new
Right Where I Belong
The first Al‑Anon meeting I attended was not for me—or so I thought. I was accompanying a friend who was looking for answers about her alcoholic loved one. I was immediately welcomed by the women and men there,
No Longer in Anger
Truth was hard to come by in my family. Growing up with a disabled and moody dad with chronic pain and lots of health problems was not the easiest experience for a young kid. What made it worse
I Found Support in That Room
I met the alcoholic in my life through online dating. Though I felt that I was okay with social drinking, I learned that there is no such thing as social drinking to an alcoholic. My partner was in
Why We Are Here – the Suggested Preamble to the Twelve Steps
Have you ever wondered why the Suggested Preamble to the Twelve Steps of Al‑Anon and Alateen appears in so many pieces of Conference Approved Literature? Does your Al‑Anon or Alateen group read it as part of the meeting
Alateen Literature Is Conference Approved Literature
Some time ago in the weekly Al‑Anon meeting that I attend, the topic scheduled was the Second Step. The meeting was quiet—nobody wanted to participate. That day I had one of my favorite daily readers with me—Alateen—a day
I No Longer Feel Like I Am Drowning
My dad has always been a drinker, but it always seemed bearable when I was growing up. Throughout elementary and middle school, I did not even realize he was an alcoholic. I thought all parents drank as much